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News note

UNICEF supplies reach conflict-affected areas of Syria as part of large UN convoy

Damascus, 15 November 2013 – A joint UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy successfully crossed the lines of conflict to deliver much needed emergency supplies to around 42,000 people in Syria’s besieged Homs governorate.

A convoy of 33 truck and trailer units loaded with emergency supplies left Homs last Friday bound for Al Rastan and Krad Tasnen, north of Homs city. 25 trucks reached Al Rastan with supplies for 30,000 people, while the remaining eight delivered supplies to 12,000 residents of Krad Tasnen.

“The convoy represents one of the largest deliveries of emergency supplies on a single day across conflict lines in Syria,” says Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, UNICEF Syria Representative. “Many families in this area have been cut off from relief supplies since May 2013.”

“The operation of a UN hub in Homs has been vital to the development of relationships in the area with all relevant parties and the effective expansion of humanitarian space,” says Mr. Abdel-Jelil.

“This cross-lines convoy was not a one-off mission, but part of on-going humanitarian delivery efforts to get supplies to children and their families in some of the most hard-to-reach areas,” he added.

This is a small but significant achievement. Between January and October 2013, UNICEF took part in 18 cross-line missions.